Hardly looking like a league newcomer, Cagayan Valley stunned defending champion Philippine Army, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20, to move within a win of a Finals stint in the Shakey’s V-League Open eliminations yesterday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Thai Kunbang Pornpimol fired 18 points to lead the Risings Suns’ strong attacking game, where they dominated the Lady Troopers, 45-25, in Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinal series.
Sandra delos Santos tossed in 12 points, including back-to-back hits that clinched the match, while also accounting for three of Cagayan’s four service aces.
“We didn’t expect it to end in three sets because that’s Philippine Army, that’s the champion,” said Cagayan coach Mike Rafael after his Rising Suns dealt the Lady Troopers their first straight sets loss this season.
Cagayan standouts Honey Tubino and Joy Cases also teamed up for 20 points in the match where surprisingly no Army player finished in double figures.
The Rising Suns hope to complete the upset in Game 2 as they shoot for a semifinal sweep of the Lady Troopers at 6 p.m. on Friday.
No. 1 Sandugo-San Sebastian and the fourth-ranked Ateneo also kicked off their semifinal clash last night.
The Rising Suns—who dealt one of the Lady Troopers’ two losses in the eliminations—survived an early Army rally where their 20-14 lead got trimmed to 22-20 before a Cases hit coupled with two Army attacking errors gave them the first set, 25-20.